Coastal cities around the world face rising sea levels, but the speed at which the water is rising and nature of the impacts are not clear. Even more unclear, and thus hotly debated, is the question of how any given community should respond.

Climate change poses a range of threats to communities around the world. Despite the strong consensus in the scientific community about the issue, many leaders and citizens remain skeptical. What can communities do now to manage the risks posed by climate change?